Mark Vestal Proud of nothing of myself. Freed by Christ who did it all!

No, but it is God's grace that we find the strength needed to overcome our sinful acts. We will always be 'sinners', but our position with God changes when we believe that Jesus Christ made the atonement for all of our sins. Sin is no longer the issue for salvation. Lack of faith in Christ is where people remain lost.

The confusion comes form those who believe and teach that the entire Bible was written to them, failing to understand that they are not a part of God's covenant program with Israel. Our 'good news' for today is found in the thirteen epistles of the apostle Paul (Romans through Philemon).

"Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah" (Jer 31:31, Heb 8:8). Note that the new covenant is for the house of Israel, and the house of Judah, not you or I.

We have something much greater than a covenant as we are not under law, but God's grace (Rom 6:14). Our salvation simply requires faith in what Jesus Christ completed for us on the cross (Rom 3:28, 1 Cor 1:23).

Rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Tim 2:15), the gospel of our salvation (Eph 1:13), is to separate the gospel given to Paul from the gospels given to Messianic Hebrews when studying the bible. Jesus' message while living and that of the 12 apostles is for our learning, but directly to the lost sheep of the house of Israel (Mat 10:5-6, Mat 15:24). Paul's writings were written to us today (Rom 3:21).

God is not imputing sins to anyone today (2 Cor 5:19). Jesus Christ, who knew no sin, was made to be sin for us (2 Cor 5:21). All of our sins, past, present, and future, were nailed to the cross so that we are no longer burdened with the anguish of being unable to live up to God's requirements. God was in Christ on the cross reconciling the world unto Himself (2 Cor 5:19). Our job is to reconcile ourselves to God through having faith alone in Jesus Christ alone, and nothing of ourselves (Eph 2:8-9).

What does it mean to have faith alone in Christ alone for salvation?

Let's say we're back in school and are presented with one final exam for graduation. It is a most difficult exam, and a score of 100% is required. The teacher is VERY gracious however, and states that we can take the test on our own, or we can accept the grade of someone else in the classroom of our choosing. I decide to accept the results of someone whom I believe is smarter than myself. I have faith that he will pass the exam on my behalf. I submit that I am not capable of passing the test on my own, and there is nothing that I can do that will assist him and his perfect score. The teacher states that any attempt made by me to add to his work will cause an automatic failure. It is his performance that matters now and nothing of myself.

Just as the teacher is in the above analogy, God is so gracious to us by offering His free gift of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ and what He accomplished on the cross on our behalf. There is nothing throughout our entire lives that we can do or could have done that would add to Christ's finished cross-work for us (2 Cor 5:21). 

Jesus Christ was perfect for us, did all the work for us, took the punishment on the cross that we deserve, was buried, but rose from the grave the 3rd day for our justification:

1 Cor 15:1-4
"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:"

Believe this and break the yoke of bondage (Galatians 5:1)! Live in peace by accepting God’s free gift of salvation (Romans 5:18) through faith alone in Jesus Christ!

December 22 2022 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report